Drawstring with clips

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to drawstrings equipped with spring clips. The function of the clips is to eliminate the need of tying knots by clamping the drawstring at the right length.

1Jnited States Paten 1 1.

Feng July 9, 1974 DRAWSTRING WITH CLIPS 642,653 2/1900 Webbe r 24/266 752,433 2/1904 Ba 1 24/143 R [76] Invent Chung Feng 16 Seven Sprmgs 1,314,723 9/1919 W582; 24/143 B ux 7 Rd., Radnor, Pa. 19087 2,509,312 5/1950 Orr 24/137 A 3,211,160 10/1965 Miller '2/198 x 2 i 1973 3,384,904 5/1968- Hofmann 2/198 [21] Appl' 3454187 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 965,456 6/1957 Germany 24/137 A [52] US. Cl. 24/266, 24/121 M1533 5/1921 Great Britain 2 g AF [51] Int. Cl. A411 l/00, A44b 21/00 256,487 2/1949 Switzerland 24/137 A [58] Field of Search.. 2'4/266, 81 A, 81 AA, 81 AB,

24/ l AG, 90 9 S. 7-5, 3 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin 143 B, 140, 143 R, 252, 254, 81 AF; 2/84, i 1

[56] References Cited The invention relates to drawstrings equipped with 1 I spring clips. The function of' the clips is to eliminate UNITED STATES PATENTS the need of tying knots by clamping the drawstring at 261,531 7/1882 Cook 1 24/121 the right length 303,360 8/1884 Brunner 24/121 483,263 9/1892 McDonald 24/121 9 2 Claims, Drawing Figures PATENIED JUL 91914 FIG 2 1 I DRAWSTRING WITH CLIPS SUMMARY 'OF'INVEN'IION In the using of a drawstring, with examples like shoelaces for shoes and drawstrings for jackets and hoods around waist, neck and face, a drawn length is fixed by the tying of knots. To tie knots requires dexterity. It is a task many youngchildren and many handicapped persons can not do. It is also a task which consumes time for normal persons. The present invention replaces the knots with spring loaded clips in controlling the drawn length. In most applications involving 'shoesand jackets there are two exit holes where the two ends of the drawstring emerge. After the drawstring is drawn tight the length remaining inside may be fixed by fastening button'shaped clips on the drawstring just outside the exit holes. The button shaped clips prevent the drawstring from retracting back into the holes.

In some other applications the distance between the two exit holes is'not fixed by the garment but depends on the drawstrings knot. The function of the knot may still be replaced-by using'one clip clamping two sections of the drawstring together.

' The usage of a drawstring and clip combination may be extended. The clip may serve as a button which is attached to a garment by a string with adjustable length. To readjust the string length it' is only necessary vto clamp the clip to a different place on the string.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS I of one clip with both the left and the right covers removed.

. 2 l. The drawstring l'is shown entering opening 11 for attachment.

FIG. 2 shows the inside of the clip with the covers removed. The C shaped spring 12 is shown holding the left shell 1 and right shell 2 with a force inthe direction of closing the clips jaw and teeth 13. The concentric positions of snap posts 7 and 9 allow the posts to serve as the hinge of the clip. When the bottom portion of the clip below the hinge is squeezed against the force of the C shaped spring 12, the clip opens to allow the middle section of a string to reach the clips jaw and teeth 13 without threading. The drawstring may be attached to the clip by inserting the rigid tip 14 backward into opening 1 1. Rigid tip 14 jams in the position shown and accomplishes attachment. The drawstring 10 may be detached by reaching rigidtip 14 through opening 15 with a rod to align the rigid tip with opening 11 for the strings withdrawal.

FIG. 3 shows the construction of the snap posts 7 and 9. The snap post 7. is a part of the right shell 4 and the snap post 9 is a part of the left shell 1. The arrangement of snap post 7 going through snap post 9 forms the hinge for the clip. The tips of the snap posts are slightly enlarged for the respective covers 2 and 5 to snap into assembled position.

FIG. 4 shows three examples of the application possi-' bilities of the invention. The shoelace is shown drawn tight and is maintained tight by the clips clamped on it just outside the lace exit holes of the shoe. The jacket FIG. 3 is a section view of the hinge axis of the clip taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows three possible uses of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION is shown using a clip as a button. By varying the clamping position on the string the opening of the jacket may be adjusted. The right side sketch of FIG. 4 shows a girls hat where the positions of the exit holes are not fixed. One clip is used here to hold two sections of the v clamping members of hollow shell-like configuration each having a cover removably secured thereto by a' pair of snap posts, one snap post of each "member being concentric with a snap post of the other member to pivotally interconnect said members, said members having centrally located teeth adapted to gripping engage a portion of an associated drawstring.

2. A drawstring having a clip as recited in claim 1 at at least one end thereof. 

1. A clip adapted to be secured to an end of a drawstring for clamping the drawstring at a desired length, said clip comprising a pair of spring biased drawstring clamping members of hollow shell-like configuration each having a cover removably secured thereto by a pair of snap posts, one snap post of each member being concentric with a snap post of the other member to pivotally interconnect said members, said members having centrally located teeth adapted to gripping engage a portion of an associated drawstring.
 2. A drawstring having a clip as recited in claim 1 at at least one end thereof. 